Women’s Basketball MAAC Power Rankings
By: John Franklin
1. Siena (9-7, 6-0 MAAC), Second in MAAC
Previous three games:, W 58-52 @ Canisius, W 66-45 vs. Rider, W 60-59 vs. Manhattan
Siena remains atop my power rankings this week. Siena started the week with a convincing win against a struggling Rider team. The team continued its week grinding out a one point win against Manhattan. The next three games find Siena in the throes of conference play, and after the last few games I can see the wins piling up. Will Siena’s record stay unblemished? The true test will be Jan. 22 when it hosts Canisius. For now, the Siena is still looking down at the rest of the conference and the view is mighty nice.
Next three games: 1/15 vs. Monmouth, 1/17 @ Rider, 1/22 vs. Canisius
2. Iona (10-7, 6-0 MAAC), First in MAAC
Previous three games: W 65-51 @ St. Peter’s, W 69-49 vs. Marist, W 79-56 vs. Canisius
The Gaels continue to push for the top spot in the MAAC. After two very big wins against Marist and Canisius, the Gaels are starting to turn some heads. It’s a toss-up at the top between the Gaels and the Saints, and don’t be surprised to see the same top two next week. Same order? You’ll just have to wait.
Next three games: 1/15 @ Marist, 1/18 @Manhattan, 1/21 vs. Niagara
3. Marist (5-11, 4-2 MAAC), Third in MAAC
Previous three games: L 69-49 @ Iona, L 60-52 @ Monmouth, W 79-73 @ Manhattan
Marist found itself on the losing end for the first time in conference play. Marist will enjoy the upcoming week as it faces off three times at home where the team is undefeated in the MAAC thus far. At this point, I sound like a broken record but come time for the conference tournament, I believe that Marist could be the potential victors.
Next three games: 1/15 vs. Iona, 1/17 vs. Monmouth, 1/23 vs. Niagara
4. Monmouth (5-9, 3-2 MAAC), Fourth in MAAC
Previous three games: W 63-60 vs. Quinnipiac, L 67-62 @ Saint Peter’s, W 60-52 vs. Marist
The Hawks are a big time sleeper in the MAAC. After watching this team play last week, I was able to see that the Hawks have all the makings of a team that can contend for a title. They have solid guard play and can shoots lights out from deep. The Hawks have three away games coming up, and they have yet to win one away from West Long Branch this season.
Next three games: 1/15 @ Siena, 1/17 @ Marist, 1/21 @ Rider
5. Manhattan (6-9, 3-3 MAAC), Fifth in MAAC
Previous three games: L 60-59 @ Siena, W 70-55 @ Fairfield, L 67-56 @ Iona
Manhattan has shown that while it is a good team, it is too young to maintain consistency. Losing two out of its last three, Manhattan looks to rebound (no pun intended) at home. One game is against Fairfiled, a team Manhattan has already bested. I think the peak has been hit for Manhattan this season, and it doesn’t look like it is heading in the right direction.
Next three games: 1/16 vs. Fairfield, 1/18 vs. Iona, 1/21 vs. Saint Peter’s
6. Quinnipiac (7-7, 2-3 MAAC), Seventh in MAAC
Previous three games: L 63-60 @ Monmouth, W 64-51 vs. Rider W 63-54 vs. Canisius
The Bobcats have finally started to turn it around after a rather disappointing start for last year’s conference champions. With back-to-back wins at home against the Rider Broncs and the Canisius Golden Griffins, the Bobcats are starting to get the lead dogs worried. The next three games for the Bobcats will be very important as they are on the road against three middle-of-the-pack teams.
Next three games: 1/15 @ Niagara, 1/17 @ Canisius, 1/22 @ Fairfield
7. Niagara (5-10, 3-3 MAAC), Sixth in MAAC
Previous three games: W 56-55 vs. Fairfield W 52-48 @ Saint Peter’s, W 67-57 @ Rider
Niagara extended its win streak to three after winning two more conference games to get back to .500 in the MAAC. The big game for Niagara will be against the other hot team in the MAAC in Quinnipiac this week. It’s hard to say which team will win that one, but it will have big implications moving forward.
Next three games: 1/15 vs. Quinnipiac, 1/17 vs. Saint Peter’s, 1/21 @ Iona
8. Canisius (7-8, 2-4 in MAAC) Eighth in MAAC
Previous three games: L 58-52 vs. Siena, L 63-54 @ Quinnipiac, L 79-56 @ Iona
The struggles continue for the Golden Griffins as they have now lost their third straight game heading into the meat of the conference schedule. The future is not bright for the Golden Griffins with three tough games upcoming. They looked good at the start of this season, but as the year wears on, that gold is starting to look gilded.
Next three games: 1/15 vs. Saint Peter’s, 1/17 vs. Quinnipiac, 1/22 @ Siena
9. Saint Peter’s (4-11, 2-4 MAAC), Ninth in MAAC
Previous three games: W 67-62 vs. Monmouth, L 52-48 vs. Niagara, W 56-46 vs. Fairfield
The Peacocks have found the win column for just the fourth time this season. As the season continues, there is potential to move up to the eighth spot, but not much higher than that.
Next three games: 1/15 @ Canisius, 1/17 @ Niagara, 1/21 @ Manhattan
10. Fairfield (6-9, 1-5 MAAC), 10th in MAAC
Previous three games: L 56-55 @ Niagara, L 70-55 vs. Manhattan, L 56-46 @ Saint Peter’s
The Stags continue the season of inconsistency. After losing three straight, the Stags look to turn it around against the one team below them. Otherwise, I am not sure what to expect from this team moving forward. A potential threat when tournament time begins, but not much is working for them right now.
Next three games: 1/14 @ Rider, 1/16 @ Manhattan, 1/22 @ Quinnipiac
11. Rider (3-12, 0-6 MAAC), 11th in MAAC
Previous three games: L 64-51 @ Quinnipiac, L 66-45 @ Siena, L 67-57 vs. Niagara
The Broncs continue their losing ways having yet to notch a win this year in the MAAC. Not much is looking good for the Broncs except maybe the start of the offseason.
Next three games: 1/14 vs. Fairfield, 1/17 vs. Siena, 1/21 vs. Monmouth
Men’s Basketball MAAC Power Rankings
By: Hannah Cotter
1. Iona (9-6, 6-0 MAAC), First in MAAC
Previous three games: W 65-52 vs. Niagara, W 67-58 vs. Rider, W 90-80 vs. Marist.
After a five game winning streak, it’s nearly impossible to deny that Iona is the best of the best. These guys can play basketball. Not only are individual players like AJ English and Jordan Washington a force on the glass, but the team as a whole has a rare buoyancy on the court that other conference teams lack. They also pass really well. It’s consistently a game of hot potato until someone finds the net. In the Gaels’ last matchup against Marist, they won their 26th straight home game in New Rochelle, and outshot them 50.8 percent to 42. 4 percent.
Next three games: 1/15 vs. Monmouth, 1/17 @ Rider, 1/22 vs. Saint Peter’s
2. Monmouth (11-4, 3-1 MAAC), Third in MAAC
Previous three games: W 81-66 vs. Canisius, W 88-74 vs. Quinnipiac, and W 86-74 @ Fairfield
Sure, the ‘Monmouth Bench’ has been drawing a lot of attention to West Long Branch, but the Hawks’ effort on the court has proven that they truly deserve the number two spot in my weekly MAAC rankings, and third in the standings. The Hawks are clearly dominant in conference play, outplaying both Fairfield (33-28) and Canisius (32-19) in the paint as well as having four players score in double figures against Quinnipiac. Justin Robinson remains Monmouth’s best player, topping the Hawks in points per game (20.1), as well as shooting 85 percent from the free throw line. The Hawks take on Iona this Friday.
Next three games: 1/15 @ Iona, 1/18 vs. Siena, 1/21 @ Manhattan
3. Saint Peter’s (6-8, 4-1 MAAC), Second in MAAC
Previous three games: W 68-60 @ Marist, L 63-61 @ Niagara, W 70-53 @ Canisius
Saint Peter’s had a rough start to the season in non-conference play, but the Peacocks have taken the MAAC by storm. Saint Peter’s has improved drastically on the offensive side of things, shooting 51 percent from the field against Canisius. At Canisius, the Peacock’s defense held a scoring machine in check beating the Golden Griffs 70-53. A very strong second half sealed the deal.
Next three games: 1/17 vs. Marist, 1/19 @ Fairfield, 1/22 @ Iona
4. Siena (10-6, 3-2 MAAC), Fourth in MAAC
Previous three games: W 75-63 vs. Niagara, L 92-87 @ Manhattan (3 OT), W 91-76 vs. Fairfield
Brett Bisping is the Saints’ key to success for the rest of the season with Marquis Wright out due to injury. Currently leading the MAAC in rebounds (8.7 per game), the redshirt junior has scored double figures in all but two games for Siena and scored 20 points against both Niagara and Manhattan. Though the Saints are having trouble pulling out wins on the road, losing all away games but one, they dominate on their home court with a perfect record. The Saints shot 55 percent, compared to 34 percent for Fairfield, in their latest home game and became the second conference team with ten wins thus far. The Saints head to Hamden to take on Quinnipiac on Jan. 15.
Next three games: 1/15 @ Quinnipiac, 1/18 @ Monmouth, 1/21 @ Rider
5. Manhattan (6-9, 3-3 MAAC), Fifth in MAAC
Previous three games: W 92-87 vs. Siena (3 OT), W 94-86 @ Canisius, L 55-53 @ Niagara
Manhattan had a chance to beat Niagara, but a tip-in by Justin Satchell with two seconds left in the game led to the Jaspers third conference loss of the season. The Jaspers are also allowing roughly 76 points per game; if they want to move up in conference play, they need to improve their defense. Manhattan plays its next three opponents at home.
Next three games: 1/15 vs. Canisius, 1/17 vs. Niagara, 1/21 vs. Monmouth
6. Fairfield (8-7, 2-3 MAAC), Seventh in MAAC
Previous three games: L 91-76 @ Siena, W 69-64 @ Rider, L 86-74 vs. Monmouth
The Stags had a great first half against Monmouth at home, scoring 47 points with a seven-point lead over the Hawks but in the second half, looked like a totally different team. It scored merely half the amount of points from the first half. Against Siena and Rider, the Stags had only committed 15 turnovers total, but against Monmouth, Fairfield turned the ball over 18 times, allowing Monmouth to score 31 of their 86 points.
Next three games: 1/15 vs. Niagara, 1/19 vs. Saint Peter’s, and 1/22 @ Marist
7. Canisius (7-9, 2-4 MAAC), Ninth in MAAC
Previous three games: L 94-86 vs. Manhattan, L 70-53 vs. Saint Peter’s, L 80-69 vs. Dartmouth
The Golden Griffins have had a rocky season thus far. Though they have four players averaging double digits in points per game and are shooting 73 percent from the line, Canisius needs to work on its defense and rebounding in order to finish strong in the MAAC. The Griffs are leading the conference in points per game, averaging 82.9, but they are also allowing 82.3 points per game, so they need to step it up before facing Manhattan again this Friday.
Next three games: 1/15 @ Manhattan, 1/17 @ Quinnipiac, 1/22 @ Niagara
8. Quinnipiac (5-9, 2-3 MAAC), Eighth in MAAC
Previous three games: L 78-66 vs. Iona, W 64-60 vs. Rider, L 88-74 @ Monmouth
With the return of sophomore forward Chaise Daniels, things should be better for the Bobcats. In his absence, Donovan Smith has been the go-to guy, averaging about 13 points in the eight games in which Daniels was out. Abdulai Bundu also has been a major contribution to Quinnipiac; after averaging 19 points and 12 rebounds in two games, the freshman was awarded MAAC and ECAC Division I Rookie of the Week on January 4. Quinnipiac faces Siena on Friday at home.
Next three games: 1/15 vs. Siena, 1/17 vs. Canisius, and 1/24 @ Rider
9. Niagara (5-12, 3-3 MAAC), Sixth in MAAC
Previous three games: L 65-52 @ Iona, W 63-61 vs. Saint Peters, W 55-53 vs. Manhattan
The Purple Eagles’ have only won their last two games by two points … after a seven game losing streak.
Next three games: 1/15 @ Fairfield, 1/17 @ Manhattan, 1/22 vs. Canisius
10. Marist (4-10, 1-4 MAAC), 10th in MAAC
Previous three games: L 92-83 vs. Canisius, L 68-60 vs. Saint Peter’s, L 90-80 @ Iona
Khallid Hart and Brian Parker both topped 20 points against Iona, but the Red Foxes still could not secure a win. The team can not just rely on two or three players to score, especially against teams like Iona and Saint Peter’s, who are both good in the half court. The Red Foxes really need to turn things around.
Next three games: 1/14 @ Rider, 1/17 @ Saint Peter’s, 1/22 vs. Fairfield
11. Rider (4-12, 0-5 MAAC), 11th in MAAC
Previous three games: L 64-60 @ Quinnipiac, L 67-58 @ Iona, L 69-64 vs. Fairfield
The Broncs have a strong defense, but that’s about it. They haven’t proven to have a good offense, can’t hit threes, and can’t rebound as well as other teams. I, personally, don’t see them turning it around anytime soon. Maybe they prove me wrong.
Next three games: 1/14 vs. Marist, 1/17 vs. Iona, 1/21 @ Siena
